About us

Since 1828 we have been committed to our soils, with a particular respect for the old vines. Over the years, the farm has seen many grape varieties come and go, with only those suited to the terroir remaining. Blaufränkisch tells us of its heritage and thrives in our biodynamically farmed soils. Clay, limestone, gneiss and mica. Unbound yet deeply rooted. Always striving for more refinement, more depth. The Weninger way of wine.

Franz Reinhard Weninger

born in 1979, grew up on his parents’ wine estate in central Burgenland. Only a few kilometres from the lake, close enough to the wine. In Horitschon he not only learned the art of making wine from (more…)

Petra Gratzer-Weninger

Petra Gratzer-Weninger, born in 1981 in Upper Austria, grew up between lakes and mountains of the Salzkammergut region. Studied journalism in Vienna, with stops in Spain and Nicaragua. (more…)

Franz Ludwig Weninger

had known his parent’s small estate for thirty years when he took over operations in 1982. It was only seven hectares, but the very first year, in 1983, he managed to produce the internationally recognized (more…)

Martina Weninger

born in 1955 in the neighboring village Lackendorf. Growing up on a farm, she was used to hard work from an early age. With Franz Ludwig, she made the perfect team. She took care of all financial issues (more…)

  • "Excellent purity. If you like Baga, Barbera or Cabernet Franc from the Loire, the Hochäcker is a lovey alternative from Austria’s Blaufränkisch paradise."

    Stephan Reinhardt, Parker

  • "Full-bodied, silky and vital, with finely  grained tannins this rare and expressive wine delivers a long and tension-filled finish and reveals a great purity, concentration and mineral freshness. Excellent structure and aging potential"

    Stephan Reinhardt, Parker

  • "Our hands-down favorite was the 2008 Weninger Hochäcker from Mittelburgenland, a graceful, harmonious wine with bright, complex flavors of fruits, flowers and spices."

    Eric Asimov, The New York Times

  • "Franz Reinhard Weninger an outstanding producer."

    Decanter

  • "An impressive Blaufrankisch from Weninger. Just beautiful: rich yet quite elegant." 

    Jamie Goode
  • Rage

    Rage against the machine

    Design by Weninger (available free of charge for affiliated winemakers) Weninger against the machine   After a robust Facebook discussion in the past year, it became clear to me how I wanted my 2018 harvest t-shirt to look.   We are known for our commitment to hand-harvesting. Not out of a dogmatic attitude but out of respect for certain cultural

    Read more
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Biodynamic

  • Rage

    Rage against the machine

    Design by Weninger (available free of charge for affiliated winemakers) Weninger against the machine   After a robust Facebook discussion in the past year, it became clear to me how I wanted my 2018 harvest t-shirt to look.   We are known for our commitment to hand-harvesting. Not out of a dogmatic attitude but out of respect for certain cultural

    Read more
    0

History

  • Lesepause_Neckenmarkt

    History

     

    In the town chronicles of Horitschon, the first mention of the name Weninger at Florianigasse 11 is in 1828. The Weninger family cultivates a mixed farm, which is typical for Central Burgenland: it has five cows, 25 hectares of arable land, and five hectares of vineyards. The family buys its first tractor after World War II, but as a boy Franz Ludwig Weninger still learned to work the land with a horse.

     

    The Thresher and Rosa’s Promise

    In the 1930’s the family orders a mobile threshing machine, which – due to its size and the resulting unwieldiness in Horitschon’s narrow streets – is sent straight back. Great-grandfather Franz sues the company but loses. And the farm goes up for auction.

    Six years later, “Uncle Franz”, who had emigrated to America in 1928, manages to raise the money to save the farm. In 1951 he visits Austria for for the first time since he left, waives all claims to the farm, and gives it to Ludwig and Rosa. Out of gratitude, Grandmother Rosa promises Uncle Franz to name her first-born son after him. In 1983 Franz Ludwig Weninger – who because of another promise made by his mother Rosa is actually supposed to become a priest – takes over the family farm.

    Martina & Franz

    “After we took over the farm,” Martina Weninger remembers, “we realized that there was a whole new clientele for fine wines.” Franz Ludwig Weninger often compares the loamy soil on his best sites Hochäcker, Kirchholz, and Dürrau to Pomerol. When it comes to vinification, he opts for long maceration.

    Franz and Martina expand their business very quickly. Together with Attila Gere they found a winery in Southern Hungary in 1992 (currently 12 hectares), and in 1997 another one in Hungary close to the Austrian border in Sopron-Balf (currently 25 hectares). Over the years the family farm in Horitschon (currently 25 hectares) is transformed into an exclusively wine-growing operation. After 28 successful years, their son Franz Reinhard, who has been in charge of the Sopron-Balf winery since 2000, takes over the Horitschon estate together with Petra.

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